{ "id": "58414", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "T20 WC: Rachael Haynes helps Australia survive scare against Sri Lanka", "lang": "en", "series": "1", "cup_year": "2020", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Perth, Feb 24:\u00a0\u00a0Rachael Haynes turned out to be the unlikely hero for Australia as she struck a classy half-century to help the hosts overcome a mighty scare against Sri Lanka in their Group A game ", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Perth, Feb 24: <\/strong> Rachael Haynes turned out to be the unlikely hero for Australia as she struck a classy half-century to help the hosts overcome a mighty scare against Sri Lanka in their Group A game at the WACA on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Earlier, Chamari Athapaththu's half-century set Sri Lanka on their way but two wickets apiece from Nicola Carey and Molly Strano held them at 122 for six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australian hearts were racing when Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney all fell within the first four overs of the chase.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But a stunning 60 from Haynes in a solid partnership with captain Meg Lanning ensured their tournament hopes stayed alive with a five-wicket victory at the WACA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australia did not hesitate in showing their intent as Megan Schutt struck early with her third ball to remove Hasini Perera for a duck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

It took until the end of the powerplay for Athapaththu to see her next partner fall as Umesha Thimeshani was removed by Carey for 20.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

It was yet another impressive outing for Athapaththu against the Australians, her 38-ball half-century taking Sri Lanka to 91 but the hosts finally took their third wicket when the captain blasted the ball straight to her opposite number.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Anushka Sanjeewani's 25 helped Sri Lanka edge to three figures but the number four was caught by Delissa Kimmince off Strano's bowling before Ama Kanchana perished for a duck two balls later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Two boundaries from Nilakshi de Silva in her late cameo helped Sri Lanka get to 120 but she was stumped by Healy in Jonassen's final over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australia had a nightmare start to their chase as Udeshika Prabodani bowled Healy for a duck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

And Prabodani's second over started just as brightly as her first as she produced another stunning in-swing delivery to remove Gardner for two.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The hosts, who knew the importance of a win at the WACA after losing to India in Sydney, soon found themselves in deep trouble when Sanjeewani stumped Mooney to leave them 10 for three after 20 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australian breaths were held when Kavisha Dilhari thought she'd trapped Haynes lbw, but the review showed the number five had got an inside edge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

And Haynes' survival proved crucial in saving the hosts' tournament hopes, the left-hander steering a 95-run partnership with Lanning (41) for the fourth wicket to lower the required rate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Two successive sixes in the 15th over put the hosts firmly back in control and even when Haynes was stumped by Sanjeewani in the 17th, Australia were almost home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

And with Carey bowled by Athapaththu at the death, it was captain Lanning who saw her side home in her 100th T20I appearance with three balls to spare.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australia will next face Bangladesh on Thursday while Sri Lanka will lock horns with India on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 122\/6 (Chamari Athapaththu 50, Nicola Carey 2\/18); Australia 123\/5 (Rachael Haynes 60 Udeshika Prabodani 2\/17)<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Australia1.jpg", "alt_img": "Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning", "alt_title": "Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "T20 WC: Rachael Haynes helps Australia survive scare against Sri Lanka On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Perth, Feb 24:\u00a0\u00a0Rachael Haynes turned out to be the unlikely hero for Australia as she struck a classy half-century to help the hosts overcome a mighty scare against Sri Lanka in their Group A game ", "seo_keywords": "Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes", "tag": "", "tagging": "Meg Lanning,Rachael Haynes,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "t20-wc-rachael-haynes-helps-australia-survive-scare-against-sri-lanka", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "1274", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2020-02-24 16:39:20", "updated": "2020-02-24 16:39:20", "img_from": "Twitter", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning", "livescore_text": "", "livescore_link": "", "btn_text": "", "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2020-02-24 16:39:20", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2020-02-24 16:39:20", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/t20-wc-rachael-haynes-helps-australia-survive-scare-against-sri-lanka-58414" }